It’s not a popular time of year for convertibles in most climates, but once warmer weather arrives, this 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 seems like a fun car to put the top down on and go cruising. Although its background is a bit of a mystery, this one seems like a solid example, and it doesn’t look like it would take much to attain daily driver status. This open-air Olds is in Chicago, Illinois, and can be found here on eBay. So far, the high bid of $2,950 isn’t enough to lift the reserve, but it can also be yours today for the buy-it-now price of $12,500.
The only history the seller provides here is that this Delta 88 was stored in a heated environment, which he says has preserved the body from becoming damaged. The panels are described as having no rot, and I’m not spotting any obvious corrosion anywhere on the exterior. It’s also believed that the paint is original, and I think the color is Cranberry Red, which looks good with the white top and interior. I’m not seeing much outside that would make me want to do anything besides preserving things how they are, other than perhaps removing the trailer bar and installing a new canvas top in the not-too-distant future.
The front seat appears to be in slightly better overall condition than the back, so maybe it’s been reupholstered at some point, though one loose seam is mentioned in the driver’s area. Some aftermarket components include a Kenwood Stereo with a cassette player, plus a couple of gauges have also been added under the dash. This one’s got several good options as well, such as power windows, door locks, and a tilt wheel.
Some excellent news comes from under the hood, as this one’s equipped with the optional 455 Rocket V8, which is stated to run smoothly and has recently gotten a new fuel pump. The mileage is listed as 43,000, with the odometer showing 42,949 in the close-up photo. However, the seller doesn’t confirm whether this is actual or if it’s rolled over. What are your thoughts on this 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 convertible? Any ideas about where the seller may have set his reserve?
This is one nice Olds. If I had the cash laying around I would skip the bidding process and pay the BIN price. Well worth it IF the underside could be inspected. It is a Midwestern car and its shown outside in the snow. I would get rid of the tach. It’s not a race car. That 455 probably guzzles gas though. Only thing that gives me pause, because a car like this would get daily driven in the summer.
Nice highway car.
Our local dealer had one in triple cranberry in early August, 1973. Fully loaded. Beautifully displayed in the showroom window along the main drag of town. Wasn’t there the next week.
Looks like factory a/c, too–!
If seller’s claim of no rust is true and 43,000 miles is legit it’s worth the BIN all day long. Yeah so it sucks gas. Won’t need premium. Put in an HEI distributor and drive it. I’m looking for a big GM convertible to cruise next summer. Scissor top mechanism is problematic on these cars.
I know these models well. If mileage were 143K there would be body rot.
My uncle had a twin of this car put overload shocks and air bags in the rear coils and would tow his 31 foot rolls international camper from highland lakes NJ to Florida and back every year that 455 nev3r broke a sweat
I have one of these. Mine’s nice, got her with 37,000 many years ago. The interior (dashboard especially) looks kind of sad. I’d have to inspect it in person to want to hand over their buy-it-now. Something looks askew by the passenger side rear wheel molding.